St. Clair Shores to host new winter festival

Linda Bologna, owner of Embroidery & Much More and a member of the Aqua Freeze Festival committee, shows off some of the festival’s official attire, which is available for sale at the store. The Macomb Daily/DAVID N. POSAVETZ

St. Clair Shores boosters know they can’t count on Lake St. Clair canals freezing in the winter for a pond hockey tournament, so they are working to create a new outdoor festival with ice sculptures, figure skating, entertainment and food.

The St. Clair Shores Aqua Freeze Festival is scheduled for Feb. 21-23 at the Wahby Park area in front of Blossom Heath Hall on Jefferson Avenue at 10 Mile Road. A committee formed by Mayor Kip Walby is lining up activities and sponsors for the free event.

“We think it would be exciting for the city to have some kind of festival to promote our waterfront and create more interest in the area,” said committee member Linda Bologna.

Aqua Freeze organizers say the festival will include ice sculpture carving demonstrations from Jeff Wolf of Finesse Ice Carving and a polar bear plunge. Community groups and businesses will be involved including Wally’s Frozen Custard, which will have a truck with coffee and hot chocolate, while the Optimists Club will cook chili dogs and St. Isaac Men’s Club will provide a fish fry. They’ll also have ice bowling, putt-putt golf and a pond hockey tournament.

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For the past two years, a Nautical Mile Pond Hockey Tournament planned for the canal alongside of Brownie’s on the Lake had to be cancelled due to poor ice conditions.

Organizers gave up in 2013 when 59-degree temperatures in January melted existing ice on the canal shores. Refunds were made to 48 four-man teams who had signed up to play out on the canal ice.

Shawn Nicholson, vice president of the St. Clair Shores Hockey Association, said there’s still strong interest in some sort of outdoor hockey tournament.

“I think Mother Nature chose not to let us have the tournament for the past couple of years, so the plan now is to use the smaller ponds at Wahby Park to have some youth hockey and figure skating if the weather cooperates,” he said.

In the meantime, the Aqua Freeze group is working on gaining sponsors. They would like to have a budget between $15,000 and $20,000. City records show they have secured about $7,500 so far. Sponsors include Faygo, Pettipren, St. Clair Shores Figure Skating Association and others.

The group recently showed off official Aqua Freeze attire including T-shirts and hooded jackets in adult and youth sizes. The clothing is available at Embroidery & Much More on Harper Avenue, a company owned by Bologna. Proceeds will go to the event and the Harper Avenue Business Association.

The committee is on the agenda for Monday’s City Council meeting to provide a status update on their plans.

For more information, visit scsaquafreezefest.com or call 586-771-3832.